Auxiliary handle for angular wrenches



Sept. 16, 1958 'r. L. MARTINEZ AUXILIARY HANDLE FOR ANGULAR WRENCHES Filed April 6, 1955 3.3 JB 4/ 37 4/ umg INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Patented Sept, 16, 1958 This invention relates to a wrench handle, and more particularly to a handle structure adapted for use with Allen wrenches, Bristol wrenches and similar wrench structures.

Allen and Bristol screws and similar screw devices having a threaded shank and a head provided with a wrench opening equipped with a plurality of corner portions, are used in large numbers in the assembly of all sorts of equipment. There may be several reasons for this, and

among these are the facility with which the screws can be inserted and tightened, the fact that the screws can be substantially recessed into the parts that they unite, and for the further reason that the screws are characterized by special head arrangements that make tampering therewith difficult. Since the wrench openings have special characteristics-for example, an Allen screw customarily has a six-sided openingspecial wrenches are necessary for working with the screws. For assembly line operations, the wrenches comprise an elongated shank having a configuration and size such that they are readily received within the wrench openings of the screws. The size of the opening will vary with the size of the screw, and each screw then generally requires a wrench of a given size for use therewith.

It is diflicult to work with the wrenches unless a handle structure is provided therefor that is readily grasped and turned by hand. Such handle structures are now known, and in those that are used commercially and especially for assembly line use, the handle is provided with an axially extending opening adapted to receive the straight wrench shank therein, and with a set screw that can be tightened against the wrench to lock it against movement with respect to the handle. It has been found, however, that the set screw, in providing only a point contact with the wrench, does not rigidly grip the wrench for long periods, and eventually the corner portions of the wrench become worn and the handle will rotate relatively freely upon the wrench even though the locking screw is tightened completely. When this occurs, the wrench must bediscarded and a new one substituted therefor.

There has long been a need for a handle structure useful with wrenches of the character described that will overcome the disadvantages inherent in the prior art wrench handle structures; and it is, accordingly, an. object of this invention to provide such a handle structure. Another object of the invention is in the provision of a wrench handle having separable jaws adapted to receive and clamp a wrench therebetween. Still another object of the invention is in providing a wrench handle adapted for use with Allen wrenches and similar wrench structures having an elongated shank and an angular end portion extending laterally therefrom, the wrench handle being provided with means for clamping both the portion of the wrench shank and the laterally extending end in a manner such that the torque for rotating the shank is transferred thereto through the angular end portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary handle, useful with wrench structures having a laterally projecting end extending at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shank, the auxiliary handle providing jaws equipped with channels for accommodating both the shank and end portion of the wrench to secure the same and prevent wrench rotation relative to the handle. Still a further object is in providing an auxiliary handle of the character described wherein a closed channel for accommodating the end of the wrench may be formed either by an opening extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the shank, or by complementary recesses in contiguous jaws of the handle. Additional objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a wrench and wrench handle embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the structure shown in Figure l, but illustrating the parts in spaced relation; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view in elevation showing the mating faces of the handle jaws; Figure 5 is a broken perspective view showing a modified form of wrench handle with a wrench mounted therein; Figure 6 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the wrench handle illustrated in Figure 5; and Figure 7 is a side view in elevation showing the mating faces of the jaws of the wrench illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the wrench handle is designated generally with the numeral 10, and comprises a shaft 11 that forms a substantially conical frustum and tapers toward its forward end. The shaft is equipped with a handhold or grip portion 12 at the opposite end thereof comprising a plurality of alternate ridges and grooves. At the forward end of the shaft 11 are a pair of jawsa stationary jaw 13, and a removable jaw 14 that is adapted to be secured to the stationary jaw by means of a threaded screw 15. The jaws 13 and 14 are designed to clamp a wrench 16 therebetween that has an elongated shank 1'7 and a laterally turned end portion 18 formed integrally therewith.

The wrench handle 10 may be formed of any appropriate material, and while metal may be employed, preferably plastic will be used because it is light in weight and can be, then, readily handled and manipulated in assembly line operations. If desired, the entire wrench handle may be formed of molded plastic, and the handhold or grip portion 12 may be an integral part of the handle and especially the shaft 11 thereof, or it may be a separate member bonded to the shaft by appropriate and conventional means.

The Wrench 16 may be a conventional Allen wrench or Bristol wrench, and the configuration shown in the drawing illustrates a wrench that is six-sided and is adapted then to be received within a six-sided opening of comparable size provided within an Allen-type screw (not shown).

The stationary jaw 13 is equipped with a longitudinally or axially extending channel 19 that opens into a transversely extending channel or recess 20. The recess 20 extends at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the channel or recess 19. Similarly, the removable jaw 14 is provided with a longitudinally extending channel or recess 21 that opens into a transversely extending channel or recess 22 extending at right angles with respect thereto. To insure accurate alignment of the jaws 13 and 14, the jaw 13 is provided with a plurality of posts or bosses 23 that are adapted to align with and enter complementary apertures 24 with which the jaw 14 is provided. To secure the jaws together, a screw 15 is adapted to extend freely through a bore 25 in the jaw 14 and to be threadedly received within a threaded bore 26 provided in the stationary jaw 13. The mating of the jaws 13 and 14 is shown best in Figure 3.

The wrench handle 10, and especially the recesses or channels in the jaws thereof, will preferably be dimensioned to accommodate a wrench 16 of particular size. It will be apparent, however, that the closed channel which is formed thereby when the jaws are brought together, may readily accommodate wrenches that deviate slightly from the particular size for which the wrench handle is intended.

In use of the wrench handle, the jaw 14 is separated from the jaw 13 by removing the screw 15, as is shown in Figure 2. A wrench 16 is then inserted into the channels 19 and 20, with the shank 17 lying in the channel 19 and the laterally turned end portion lying in the channel 20 and extending beyond one end thereof. Thereafter, the jaw 14 is placed in position upon the jaw 13 with the bosses 23 and recesses 24 in mating relation, and the screw 15 is tightened against the jaw 14 to clamp the wrench in position. Whenever it is desired to replace the wrench 16for example, in the event it is broken through continued usethe jaws are simply separated and another wrench inserted in the manner heretofore described.

The modified form of wrench handle shown in Figures 5 through 7 may be substantially identical to the handle structure heretofore described. As shown in Figure 6, however, the stationary jaw 33 is received within an opening provided in the shaft 34 of the wrench handle. The jaw 33 is formed of metal, while the handle 34 is plastic, and the plastic handle may be bonded to the jaw in any suitable manner. A removable jaw 35 is secured to the stationary jaw 33 by a threaded screw 36.

The stationary jaw 33 is provided with an axially extending channel or recess 37 that terminates at its inner end in an opening 38 that extends at right angles to the channel 37. The removable jaw 35 is provided with an elongated, axially extending channel 39, and is also provided with a plurality of apertures 40 therein adapted to mate with and receive the bosses or posts 41 with which the jaw 33 is equipped.

In use of the wrench handle shown in Figures 5 through 7, the jaws 33 and 35 are separated by removing the screw 36, and the wrench 16 is inserted into the channel 37 with the laterally turned end portion 18 of the wrench projecting through the opening 38 in the 3- stationary jaw. The removable jaw is then tightened in position upon the stationary jaw by means of the screw 36.

In use of either of the wrench handle structures, it is seen that the wrench is securely locked within the jaws, and the laterally turned end of the wrench is secured within the jaws by a channel that extends at right angles to the axis of the wrench. Thus, when the wrench handle is rotated, driving torque is transmitted to the shank of the wrench through the laterally turned end portion. The jaws bear against the wrench throughout a large area thereof; and in that manner, and particularly because of the angular orientation of the wrench end portion 18 and the closed channel defined by the jaws, the wrench is locked against rotation relative to the handle and there is no wearing of the wrench.

While in the foregoing specification, embodiments of the invention have been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in those details without departing from the function and claimed scope of the invention.

I claim:

In an auxiliary handle for wrenches having elongated shanks and laterally turned end portions, an elongated handle shaft, a wrench-clamping structure axially aligned with said handle shaft so as to extend from one end thereof and comprising a pair of jaws, means for releasably securing said jaws together along a plane containing the alignment axis of said handle shaft and clamping structure, said jaws each having a longitudinally and axially extending channel that together form a closed axially extending channel adapted to receive a portion of an elongated wrench shank when said jaws are secured together, and said clamping structure also providing a laterally extending closed channel communicating with said closed axial channel for receiving a laterally turned end portion of such a wrench.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,039,831 Sisson Oct. 1, 1912 1,168,661 McInnes Jan. 18, 1916 1,545,574 Rollins July 14, 1925 2,519,559 Foster et al Aug. 22, 1950 2,569,069 Motel Sept. 25, 1951 2,719,042 Espy Sept. 27, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 140,455 Great Britain Dec. 2, 1920 

